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Spondylosis (Spinal Arthritis) and Facet Joint Syndrome

At each level in our spine, there is a single disc separating the bones (vertebrae) in front of the spinal canal, and a pair of joints called facet joints joining the bones together behind the spinal canal. As we age, the spinal discs and facet joints can wear out and degenerate. Disc degeneration is the terrm used to describe the wearing out of the discs. Spondylosis is the term used to describe degeneration and arthritis of the facet joints. Degeneration of the spine is a normal aging process, and in most cases spinal arthritis does not cause significant symptoms. However, for some people, arthritic facet joints can cause significant pain. Back or neck pain resulting from arthritic or inflamed facet joints is a condition called “facet joint syndrome”.

Symptoms

Back pain with radiation into hips and buttocks or neck pain with radiation into the shoulders

Natural History (“Doing Nothing”)

Not all arthritic facet joints cause symptoms

Back or neck pain may not be coming from the facet joints even if they are arthritic

Symptoms may resolve without treatment

Symptoms may be short-lived and infrequent

Rarely, patients develop more persistent and debilitating pain

Facet joints have very little ability to repair themselves or regenerate

The word rhizotomy means “nerve destruction” or nerve ablation. In facet rhizotomy, the tiny nerve fibers that carry pain signals from the facet joints to the brain are selectively destroyed using some form of energy.

For patients who have had successful, but temporary relief of their back or neck pain from the facet injections, facet rhizotomy may provide more long-term relief.

Facet rhizotomy is most commonly performed using a form of energy called radiofrequency (RF) energy. When done with RF, this technique is often called